# US 5,703,411 A · Re-useable emergency vehicle wiring harness and control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,411 A - Document ID: US5703411A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/597,457 - Filed: 1996-02-02 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-02-02 - Assignees: Transcom, Inc. - Inventors: James Bella; William G. Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703411A ## CPC - B60R 16/0207: {Wire harnesses} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system having an integrated control unit for installation in an emergency vehicle, the unit responsive to inputs and operative to output control signals to emergency vehicle electrical apparatus through a pre-fabricated wiring harness. The wiring harness is designed with connectors and an overall configuration requiring only minor alterations to the vehicle structure, allowing easy installation primarily through ducts and openings used by the vehicle manufacturer for conventional wiring installations. The harness is designed to be readily removable for installation in another vehicle of either the same or different model, when the existing vehicle is to be retired from service. The system has numerous features including an opto-isolator and noise filter to provide a reliably detected signal indicative of the state of the vehicle's transmission, the control unit operative in response to modify the emergency vehicle conditions when the vehicle is stopped. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A re-useable emergency vehicle wiring harness and control system for controlling emergency vehicle accessories comprising: a) an intergrated control unit having a plurality of control circuits responsive to a control console for controlling said vehicle accessories; b) a prefabricated wiring harness providing interconnection between said control unit and said accessories and said control console; and c) opto-isolator transmission sense means connected to an electrical line indicative of the vehicle transmission state, said opto-isolator transmission sense means outputing a corresponding reliable sense signal to said wiring harness for passage to said control unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system is for use in wiring and control of a new vehicle installation of emergency vehicle accessories. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system is for use in re-wiring an emergency vehicle previously wired with individual wires. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said control unit and said wiring harness are configured to be easily removable from one vehicle and re-installed in another vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said wiring harness has a main bus line and one or more branch bus lines, said main bus line having at least one system interface end for interface with said control unit and said accessories, and each of said branch lines having a junction end for connection to said main bus line and an interface end for interface with said control unit and said accessories. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A control system as recited in claim 5 wherein one or more of said interface ends interface with one or more user operable controls. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A control system as recited in claim 5 wherein one or more of said branch bus lines is joined to said main bus line at said junction end through use of a multi-conductor connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A control system as recited in claim 4 wherein said control unit includes an LED display operative to show electrical status of said control circuits. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) A control system as recited in claim 4 wherein a plurality of said control circuits are user programmable. ### Claim 10 A control system as recited in claim l wherein said wiring harness is configured as a single design that is useable on a plurality of different vehicles and vehicle systems. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said prefabricated wiring harness contains one or more wires, each wire of a plurality of said wires having at least one alternate branch providing wiring for an alternate location of an emergency vehicle accessory. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said wires have visual identification thereon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said prefabricated wiring harness includes a cable connector for connection to an adaptor cable to interconnect to a particular control console, whereby said cable connector allows said wiring harness to be used with any one of a plurality of control consoles of different design. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wiring harness can be removed as an integral unit from one vehicle and reinstalled in another vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wiring harness has one or more color coded Y adapters for making electrical connection to an existing vehicle electrical wire. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuits are adjustable to accommodate a plurality of different vehicle system designs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control unit responds to said sense signal by connecting or disconnecting a selected accessory dependent on said transmission state indicated by said sense signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A control system as recited in claim 17 further comprising: means for activating a light bar; and wherein when said selected accessory is said light bar, said connecting of said light bar is done when said transmission status is in a forward moving state, and said disconnecting of said light bar is done when said transmission state is in neutral or park. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: opto-isolator ignition sense means for sensing whether the vehicle ignition circuit is in an "on" or "off" state, and said opto-isolator ignition sense means outputing a sense signal indicative of whether said ignition is "on" or "off". ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A control system as recited in claim 19 wherein said control unit responds to said sense signal by connecting or disconnecting an accessory dependent on whether said ignition is "on" or "off". ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A control system as recited in claim 19 further comprising: timer means responsive to said sense signal to continue to supply operational power to an accessory for a pre-determined period of time after said ignition is turned off. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuits are programmable. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: noise filter means for supplying low noise electrical power to said control circuits. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: timer means responsive to said sense signal to continue to supply operational power to an accessory for a pre-determined period of time after an ignition is turned off. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a tilt-down case having a cover and a box, said cover having a top portion with two downwardly extending oppositely disposed rear tabs, each said rear tab having a slot formed therein extending downward, and said box having means extending for retaining said box in said slots, and said box being removeable from said slots by lifting said means extending out of said slots. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: fuse means including a single main fuse for all accessories located under a hood of said vehicle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control unit includes load shedding fuse means including a plurality of fuses protecting said accessories. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A control system as recited in claim 27 wherein said plurality of fuses are accessible for replacement. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A control system as recited in claim 28 wherein said load shedding fuse means includes fuse status indicating means for displaying the status of a particular fuse or circuit. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: rear light flasher means having programmability for flashing rear lights at one of a plurality of rates when said vehicle transmission is in a forward moving state, and an emergency accessory is selected. ### Claim 31 A re-useable emergency vehicle wiring harness and control system for controlling emergency vehicle accessories comprising: a) an integrated control unit having a plurality of control circuits responsive to a control console for controlling said vehicle accessories; b) a prefabricated wiring harness providing interconnection between said control unit and said accessories and said control console; and c) means for disabling vehicle brake and back up lights. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 further comprising: means for automatic reconnection of said brake and back up lights if said vehicle transmission is in a forward moving state, and an emergency accessory is activated. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said system is for use in wiring and control of a new vehicle installation of emergency vehicle accessories. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control unit and said wiring harness are configured to be easily removable from one vehicle and re-installed in another vehicle. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said wiring harness has a main bus line and one or more branch bus lines. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A control system as recited in claim 35 wherein one or more of interface ends interface with one or more user operable controls. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) A control system as recited in claim 35 wherein one or more of said branch bus lines is joined to said main bus line at a junction end through use of a multi-conductor connector. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) A control system as recited in claim 34 wherein said control unit includes an LED display operative to show electrical status of said control circuits. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) A control system as recited in claim 34 wherein a plurality of said control circuits are user programmable. ### Claim 40 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said system is for use in re-wiring an emergency vehicle previously wired with individual wires. ### Claim 41 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said wiring harness is configured as a single design that is useable on a plurality of different vehicles and vehicle systems. ### Claim 42 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said prefabricated wiring harness contains one or more wires, each wire of a plurality of said wires having at least one alternate branch providing wiring for an alternate location of an emergency vehicle accessory. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) A control system as recited in claim 42 wherein said wires have visual identification thereon. ### Claim 44 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said prefabricated wiring harness includes a cable connector for connection to an adaptor cable to interconnect to a particular control console, whereby said cable connector allows said wiring harness to be used with any one of a plurality of control consoles of different design. ### Claim 45 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said wiring harness can be removed as an integral unit from one vehicle and reinstalled in another vehicle. ### Claim 46 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said wiring harness has one or more color coded Y adapters for making electrical connection to an existing vehicle electrical wire. ### Claim 47 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said control circuits are adjustable to accommodate a plurality of different vehicle system designs. ### Claim 48 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 further comprising: opto-isolator ignition sense means for sensing whether a vehicle ignition is in an "on" or "off" state, and said opto-isolator ignition sense means outputing a sense signal indicative of whether said ignition is "on" or "off". ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) A control system as recited in claim 48 wherein said control unit responds to said sense signal by connecting or disconnecting an accessory dependent on whether said ignition is "on" or "off". ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) A control system as recited in claim 48 further comprising: timer means responsive to said sense signal to continue to supply operational power to an accessory for a pre-determined period of time after said ignition is turned off. ### Claim 51 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said control circuits are programmable. ### Claim 52 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 further comprising: noise filter means for supplying low noise electrical power to said control circuits. ### Claim 53 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 further comprising: timer means responsive to said sense signal to continue to supply operational power to an accessory for a pre-determined period of time after an ignition is turned off. ### Claim 54 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said control unit includes a tilt-down case having a cover and a box, said cover having a top portion with two downwardly extending oppositely disposed rear tabs, each said rear tab having a slot formed therein extending downward, and said box having means extending for retaining said box in said slots, and said box being removable from said slots by lifting said means extending out of said slots. ### Claim 55 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 further comprising: fuse means including a single main fuse for all accessories located under a hood of said vehicle. ### Claim 56 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 wherein said control unit includes load shedding fuse means including a plurality of fuses protecting said accessories. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) A control system as recited in claim 56 wherein said plurality of fuses are accessible for replacement. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) A control system as recited in claim 57 wherein said load shedding fuse means includes fuse status indicating means for displaying the status of a particular fuse or circuit. ### Claim 59 (depends on 31) A control system as recited in claim 31 further comprising: rear light flasher means having programmability for flashing rear lights at one of a plurality of rates when said vehicle transmission is in a forward moving state, and an emergency accessory is selected. ### Claim 60 A re-useable emergency vehicle wiring harness and control system for controlling emergency vehicle accessories comprising: a) an integrated control unit having a plurality of control circuits responsive to a control console for controlling said vehicle accessories, said control unit including means for disconnecting vehicle air conditioning when said vehicle transmission is in a forward moving state and an emergency vehicle accessory is activated; and b) a prefabricated wiring harness providing interconnection between said control unit and said accessories and said control console. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said system is for use in wiring and control of a new vehicle installation of emergency vehicle accessories. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) A system as recited in claim 61 wherein said control unit and said wiring harness are configured to be easily removable from one vehicle and re-installed in another vehicle. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) A system as recited in claim 62 wherein said wiring harness has a main bus line and one or more branch bus lines. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) A control system as recited in claim 63 wherein one or more of interface ends interface with one or more user operable controls. ### Claim 65 (depends on 63) A control system as recited in claim 63 wherein one or more of said branch bus lines is joined to said main bus line at a junction end through use of a multi-conductor connector. ### Claim 66 (depends on 62) A control system as recited in claim 62 wherein said control unit includes an LED display operative to show electrical status of said control circuits. ### Claim 67 (depends on 62) A control system as recited in claim 62 wherein a plurality of said control circuits are user programmable. ### Claim 68 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said system is for use in re-wiring an emergency vehicle previously wired with individual wires. ### Claim 69 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said wiring harness is configured as a single design that is useable on a plurality of different vehicles and vehicle systems. ### Claim 70 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said prefabricated wiring harness contains one or more wires, each wire of a plurality of said wires having at least one alternate branch providing wiring for an alternate location of an emergency vehicle accessory. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) A control system as recited in claim 70 wherein said wires have visual identification thereon. ### Claim 72 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said prefabricated wiring harness includes a cable connector for connection to an adaptor cable to interconnect to a particular control console, whereby said cable connector allows said wiring harness to be used with any one of a plurality of control consoles of different design. ### Claim 73 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said wiring harness can be removed as an integral unit from one vehicle and reinstalled in another vehicle. ### Claim 74 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said wiring harness has one or more color coded Y adapters for making electrical connection to an existing vehicle electrical wire. ### Claim 75 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said control circuits are adjustable to accommodate a plurality of different vehicle system designs. ### Claim 76 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 further comprising: opto-isolator ignition sense means for sensing whether a vehicle ignition is in an "on" or "off" state, and said opto-isolator ignition sense means outputing a sense signal indicative of whether said ignition is "on" or "off". ### Claim 77 (depends on 76) A control system as recited in claim 76 wherein said control unit responds to said sense signal by connecting or disconnecting an accessory dependent on whether said ignition is "on" or "off". ### Claim 78 (depends on 76) A control system as recited in claim 76 further comprising: timer means responsive to said sense signal to continue to supply operational power to an accessory for a pre-determined period of time after said ignition is turned off. ### Claim 79 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said control circuits are programmable. ### Claim 80 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 further comprising: noise filter means for supplying low noise electrical power to said control circuits. ### Claim 81 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 further comprising: timer means responsive to said sense signal to continue to supply operational power to an accessory for a pre-determined period of time after said ignition is turned off. ### Claim 82 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said control unit includes a tilt-down case having a cover and a box, said cover having a top portion with two downwardly extending oppositely disposed rear tabs, each said rear tab having a slot formed therein extending downward, and said box having means extending for retaining said box in said slots, and said box being removable from said slots by lifting said means extending out of said slots. ### Claim 83 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 further comprising: fuse means including a single main fuse for all accessories located under a hood of said vehicle. ### Claim 84 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 wherein said control unit includes load shedding fuse means including a plurality of fuses protecting said accessories. ### Claim 85 (depends on 84) A control system as recited in claim 84 wherein said plurality of fuses are accessible for replacement. ### Claim 86 (depends on 85) A control system as recited in claim 85 wherein said load shedding fuse means includes fuse status indicating means for displaying the status of a particular fuse or circuit. ### Claim 87 (depends on 60) A control system as recited in claim 60 further comprising: rear light flasher means having programmability for flashing rear lights at one of a plurality of rates when said vehicle transmission is in a forward moving state, and an emergency accessory is selected.